Sri Lanka's jailed former army chief was sentenced Friday to three more years in prison for reportedly implicating the defense secretary in war crimes at the end of the country's civil war.

Former presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, who claimed at his trial he was misquoted, rejected the verdict as unjust but said he was not surprised because Sri Lankan authorities did not want him active in politics.

"I reject this decision with disgust," Fonseka said in a statement in open court. "I believe that the fair-minded people will correct this mistake one day, otherwise it will remain a black mark in the history of our judiciary."

He said prosecuting an opposition candidate based on a newspaper interview only happens in dictatorships.

The defense secretary is President Mahinda Rajapaksa's younger brother. Fonseka was arrested days after he was defeated by Rajapaksa in last year's election. Read the full story.

Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, center wearing maroon scarf, participates in a function celebrating his 66th birthday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Nov. 18. Rajapaksa invited 600 children who share the same birthday to his residence for celebrations.